Renaissance of goddess of war✨️

Chapter 10: The Calm Before the Storm

The Li Mansion hummed with an unusual quiet, as if even the breeze held its breath. The chaos of the past month had ebbed, but Ancheng, seated by the garden's koi pond, knew this silence was temporary. Something loomed on the horizon—she could feel it in her bones.

Her mother, Lady Chen Shuyin, approached with a tray of fragrant tea, her expression stern yet softened by a hint of affection. “Your elder brother, Ming, will be home soon,” she said, her voice carrying the weight of authority. “After all these years, he’s finally returning to the capital.”

Ancheng's heart warmed at the thought of her brother. He had always been the intellectual one, while she and Anning had taken different paths—Anning as a healer and Ancheng as a young general on the battlefield. Yet, despite her mother’s strictness, Ancheng knew that beneath it lay a deep well of love and pride.

“Mother,” Ancheng said, taking a sip of the tea, “it’ll be good to have the family together again.”

Lady Chen’s eyes glinted with more news. “Your father is also on his way back. The emperor has called him for an important matter—something that concerns our family. The betrothal of your brother and Zhao Xue will be made official at the festival, and their marriage is set for seven months from now.”

Ancheng’s expression softened. Zhao Xue had been like a sister to her, and the bond between her and Li Ming had always been undeniable. The match was perfect, and knowing that her brother would soon find happiness gave Ancheng some measure of peace.

Later that afternoon, Ancheng’s personal lieutenants, Li Yueying and Li Meixiu, returned from their reconnaissance mission. Originally her ladies-in-waiting, both had been trained in martial arts since childhood due to their family’s close ties with the Li family. Now, as loyal and skilled lieutenants, they had earned the honor to fight alongside her.

“General,” Yueying greeted, bowing slightly. “We’ve gathered vital information from our mission.”

Meixiu continued, “Xiuyuan and Beishan have both made subtle military moves along their borders. However, Qinghai remains steadfast in its alliance. The current empress, Lady Li Yan, your younger aunt, has ensured stability there, but rumors speak of an impending visit from their Third Prince, your cousin.”

Ancheng narrowed her eyes. The Third Prince’s visit could signify something more complex than mere diplomacy. Li Yan was known for her intelligence and influence, being the mother of both the Second and Third Princes. Their royal ties ran deep, and her connection to the Qinghai royal family was a thread woven into their fate.

“Anything else?” Ancheng asked, her voice calm but carrying an edge.

“We’ve uncovered whispers of mercenary groups in Xiuyuan,” Yueying replied, exchanging a glance with Meixiu. “The same groups tied to the assassination attempt on the crown prince.”

Ancheng’s jaw clenched. Wu Ying Jun’s shadow still lingered, a ghost from the past that refused to be exorcised.

Meanwhile, Huo Wushang, commander of the Great Huo Army, prepared to leave the capital to further investigate the assassin’s final confession. The torturous interrogation had broken the man’s spirit, yielding crucial information about hidden allies beyond the kingdom's borders.

“I’ll return as soon as I have the truth,” Wushang said, standing tall beside his horse, his gaze steady.

“I trust you will,” Ancheng replied, her tone unwavering. There was an unspoken understanding between them—a bond forged in the fires of conflict.

In the days that followed, Anning made her return to the capital. She had visited her family briefly to bid farewell before resuming her journey. Anning, a skilled healer, was devoted to her duties but always made time for her loved ones.

“Anning, my dear,” Lady Chen Shuyin said, her voice warm as she embraced her daughter. “You’ve been gone far too long! It feels like ages since we spent time together. The palace can be so lonely without you here.”

“I’ve missed you too, Mother,” Anning replied, her voice soft. “It’s just that I’ve been so caught up with my duties as a healer. This time, I’ve been in the palace the whole time I was back, and I didn’t want to leave you again so soon.”

Lady Chen stepped back, studying Anning’s face with a mixture of pride and concern. “You’re always so dedicated to your work, but don’t forget to take care of yourself, too. Family is important, and we cherish every moment together.”

“I promise I’ll make more time for you,” Anning said, a hint of regret in her tone. “I should have found a way to balance everything better. I’ll return soon, and we can catch up properly.”

“You’d better,” her mother said with a gentle smile, brushing a strand of hair behind Anning's ear. “I want to hear all about your adventures, not just the duties you’ve been handling. And don’t forget, I’m still here for you, no matter what.”

As the night deepened and the capital slept, Ancheng stood alone in the courtyard of the Li Mansion. The silence was profound, the world still, yet her thoughts were anything but quiet. The responsibilities of a general, the weight of her family’s legacy, and the mysteries yet unraveled all pressed down upon her. But Ancheng had never been one to shrink under pressure.

She walked toward the open training grounds, the cool night air brushing against her skin. The moon hung high in the sky, an ethereal presence casting its silvery light across the land, and in its glow, the world seemed suspended between realms—neither fully grounded nor fully divine.

In the pale light, Ancheng’s whip shimmered like a weapon forged by gods. She held it with grace and strength, the leather coiled around her hand as if it were an extension of her own being. Her heart beat steadily, but there was an undeniable power rising within her, a force that connected her to the vastness of the heavens above.

With a sudden, commanding flick of her wrist, the whip snapped through the air, its sound echoing like thunder in the stillness. Ancheng moved with an unearthly precision, her motions fluid and graceful, as if she were not bound by the limits of human strength. Each crack of the whip resonated like lightning splitting the sky, a storm contained within her.

The moonlight illuminated her every movement, casting long shadows that seemed to dance alongside her. Her figure was bathed in the celestial glow, making her appear more than mortal—she was a goddess of war, invoking the power of thunder and lightning with every strike. Her whip moved like a serpent in her hands, snapping and coiling, creating a symphony of sound that echoed through the courtyard.

Ancheng’s focus was absolute, her connection to the world around her transcendent. With each flick of the whip, the air itself seemed to tremble, as though the elements obeyed her will. The sky above, vast and infinite, felt within her reach. In those moments, she was not just a general, but a force of nature, a being capable of bending the universe to her command.

Her whip cracked again, this time louder, and the ground beneath her seemed to hum with energy. Ancheng stood tall, her whip coiled once more, the storm she had invoked slowly dissipating into the calm night. The moonlight danced off her figure, making her glow with a fierce, divine energy. She spun and twisted, her whip following her command with perfect obedience, the cracks reverberating like the voice of a deity calling forth the storm.

When she finally stilled, her breath came in steady waves, her body still thrumming with the energy of the practice. She stood tall, her whip coiled once more, the storm she had invoked slowly dissipating into the calm night. Ancheng raised her eyes to the heavens, where the moon still watched over her, silent and radiant, as though it acknowledged her as one of its own.

In that moment, she was not merely a warrior—she was a being forged from lightning, a force with the power to move the heavens themselves. The beauty of her strength was unmatched, her will unshakable. Alone in the moonlit courtyard, Ancheng stood as both protector and stormbringer, ready to face the battles yet to come.